Lade - cold, cloudy, N 2 - The polar air continues to dominate our weather, which in some ways is particularly relevant for the ongoing passage of waders passing through our shores en-route to their northern breeding grounds. Two parties of six and nine Whimbrels went over the local patch this morning, calling furiously, along with two high Grey Plovers. A few more Greys were noted on the bay this afternoon, plus 85 Bar-tailed Godwits, 30 Sanderlings, 20 Dunlins, ten Knots and eight Ringed Plovers, many in summer plumage.
A circuit of the bird reserve around noon delivered a mixed flock of 60 Barwits, six Knots, two Whimbrels and a Curlew on Burrowes that paused for a couple of hours before heading off northwards, only to be replaced by another smaller group of Barwits and Knots; also on the islands a Redshank and Common Sandpiper. Around the circular walk Sedge Warblers outnumbered Whitethroats by about five to one, where Reed and Cetti`s Warblers, Blackcaps and Lesser Whitethroats were all in good voice. The hayfields are fast drying out where only a handful of Lapwings, Redshanks, Oystercatchers and Ringed Plover noted amongst 25 Teal and a host of feral geese; a good dollop of rain is drastically needed to complement the pumping. At Dengemarsh more feral geese included two Barnacle Geese, plus Shelducks and Shoveler, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, a `booming` Bittern and a smart Hobby perched on a fence post, the frigid temperatures probably making it unsuitable for hawking large flying insects. A few more Whimbrels were on the Boulderwall fields on the way out and ten Swifts pushed inland.
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